Sandia Energy > Programs > Nuclear Energy > Safety, Security, and Safeguards (3S) Interface > Advanced Reactor Safeguards The Advanced Reactor Safeguards (ARS) program area in the Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy (DOE NE) seeks to support domestic deployment of advanced nuclear reactors by mitigating safeguards and security roadblocks. The program applies laboratory research and development to address near-term challenges advanced reactor vendors face in meeting Physical Protection System (PPS) and Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) requirements for U.S. construction. Helpful Links Learn more about the various ways DOE NE is supporting the nuclear industryLearn more about resources for international safeguards and security support for advanced reactors.Learn more about Sandia safety, security, and safeguards (3S) for advanced nuclear power Key Thrust Areas Direct Vendor Engagements The ARS program provides direct support to vendors to assist in developing MC&A and PPS approaches for their facilities. This work examines design-specific challenges associated with advanced reactors, and generates creative solutions early in the development phase. Some engagements are in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) through the NEXUS portal. Lessons learned from this work are available to all vendors, to promote knowledge-sharing in a growing industry. Develop Robust and Cost-Appropriate Physical Protection Systems Security costs for nuclear reactors can be prohibitive. The ARS program is examining alternative PPS approaches that may drastically reduce the expenses associated with security. New technologies for detection, delay, and response are being actively developed and tested. These can be used alongside the security-by-design principles to optimize PPS systems. U.S. Domestic Microreactor Security-by-DesignU.S. Domestic Pebble Bed Reactor: Security-by-DesignU.S. Domestic Small Modular Reactor Security by DesignApproach and Model Used to Represent a Timeline Analysis for Security Design Enhancements Evaluate Material Control and Accounting Approaches for Pebble Bed Reactors Some advanced reactor designs utilize alternative fuel forms, such as pebble-based fuel. Pebble Bed Reactors (PBRs) present a unique MC&A challenge in that tracking and counting the vast number of pebbles may be difficult for existing technologies and approaches. The ARS program is examining each aspect of the PBR design from a safeguards perspective, including the MC&A approach, pebble handling systems, burnup measurements, and the interface between physical protection and MC&A. FY2022 Summary Report – Pebble Bed Reactor Domestic Safeguards: Fuel Burnup and Fissile Material Loss and Production for Pebble Bed Reactor Nuclear Material Accounting FY2022 Summary Report – Pebble Bed Reactor Domestic Safeguards: Material Control and Accounting Systems: Requirements and ConceptsUse Machine Learning to Improve Burnup Measurement in Pebble Bed ReactorsNuclear Material Control and Accountancy Approach for Pebble Fueled Reactors using a Novel Pebble-Type Identification and Classification TechnologyPebble Bed Reactor Domestic Safeguards – FY21 Summary Report Evaluate Licensing Strategies for Microreactors Microreactors are novel reactor designs, wherein a low, steady output of power is provided by a small-form factor reactor. Cost competitiveness is a high priority for these facilities. The ARS program is focused on designing optimal protection systems as well as interfacing with regulatory agencies (such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission), to ensure microreactors are safe, secure, and well-regulated. Material Control and Accounting Regulatory and Technical Considerations for Microreactors Evaluate Material Control and Accounting Approaches for Molten Salt Reactors Liquid-fueled molten salt reactors (MSRs) are singularly unique advanced reactor designs in that the fuel itself is in bulk form, as opposed to being discrete items (such as pebbles or fuel assemblies). The ARS program is examining an overall MC&A approach, as well as exploring new measurement technologies and statistical methods to achieve safety, security, and safeguards of MSRs. Material Accountancy for Molten Salt Reactors: Challenges and OpportunitiesDomestic MC&A Recommendations for Liquid-Fueled MSRsLimitations of Overall Measurement Error for Molten Salt ReactorsAssessment of Flow-Enhanced Sensors for Actinide Quantification in MSRsOn-line Monitoring for Molten Salt Reactor MC&A: Optical Spectroscopy-Based ApproachesExperimental Validation of Nondestructive Assay Capabilities for Molten Salt Reactor Safeguards – FY21 ReportOn-line Monitoring for Molten Salt Reactor MC&A: Optical Spectroscopy-Based ApproachesMC&A for MSRs: FY2021 Report Consider International Safeguards and Security Requirements Many advanced reactor vendors also consider international safeguards and security when designing their facility, in anticipation of international deployment. While focused on domestic safeguards, the ARS program partners with NNSA to support vendors with global aspirations. Advanced Reactor Safeguards: Lessons from the IAEA Safeguards DomainThe Nexus site provides resources for international safeguards and security support for advanced reactors. 2022 ARS Program Review Presentations ARS Program OverviewMC&A for MSRsLeveraging interfaces between domestic and international safeguardsFlow Enhanced Electrochemical Sensors for Molten Salt ReactorsFramework for Microreactors Safeguards and SecurityGen-IV PR&PPImplementation of Task Variance Model in Security Assessment ModelsUsing machine learning to improve efficiency and accuracy of burnup measurements at PBR reactorsMC&A for Pebble Bed ReactorsMSR Safeguards ModelingProcess monitoring for MC&A: Optical spectroscopyA Novel Nuclear Material Control Technique for Pebble Fueled Reactors: FY22 Mid-year ReviewMicroreactors Modeling for Sabotage AnalysisScenario Exploration and Timeline Analysis for MicroreactorsTotal Mass Accounting in Advanced Liquid-Fueled ReactorsExperimental Validation of NDA Capabilities for MSR Safeguards 2023 ARS Program Review Presentations ARS Program OverviewMCA Recommendations for Liquid Fueled MSRsOptical Spectroscopy for MSRsFlow Enhanced Sensors for MSRsTotal Mass Accounting for Liquid Fueled ReactorsOnsite Response Force StrategiesDynamic Risk-Based Physical Security ModelingCyber-Physical Security ModelingFramework for Microreactor Safeguards and Security Risk Informed PPS-MicroreactorMCA for Pebble Bed ReactorsPebble Bed Reactor Burnup Machine LearningPebble Bed Defect and Batch MonitoringNDA Measurement CampaignsPebble Databased for Pebble Bed Reactor MCAGen IV Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection Contact Ben Cipiti, National Technical Director DOE NE Advanced Reactor Safeguards Program Sandia National Laboratories (505) 284-8757 Savannah Fitzwater, Federal Program Manager DOE NE Advanced Reactor Safeguards Program Department of Nuclear Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy